Cross-country type ski binding system

ABSTRACT

An improved cross-country type ski binding is provided. The ski binding comprises a toe iron, a clamp element pivotally mounted in said toe iron and a lock member pivotally mounted forwardly of said clamp member. The clamp member and lock member are pivotally connected together for downward over-center movement of the pivotal connection thereof to a position below the two stationary pivot axes defined by the pivotal mountings of the clamp member and the lock member to cause the clamp member to lock the tow of a ski boot in the toe iron while permitting maximum lift of the heel thereof.

United States Patent [191 Fredriksen Nov. 18, 1975 [76] Inventor: Wilhelm Fredriksen, 19972 Mitchell, Detroit, Mich. 48234 22 Filed: Jan. 17, 1975 21 Appl. No.: 541,852

[52] US. Cl 280/l1.35 B [51] Int. Cl. A63C 9/00 [58] Field of Search 280/1l.35 B, 11.35 W 280/11.35 V

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,415 6/1954 With 280/11.35 B 3,481,618 12/1969 With 280/l1.35 B

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 97,886 1/1940 Switzerland 280/1 1.35 B 115,895 12/1968 Norway 280/1 1.35 B

Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-David M. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap [57] ABSTRACT An improved cross-country type ski binding is provided. The ski binding comprises a toe iron, a clamp element pivotally mounted in said toe iron and a lock member pivotally mounted forwardly of said clamp member. The clamp member and lock member are pivotaily connected together for downward overcenter movement of the pivotal connection thereof to a position below the two stationary pivot axes defined by the pivotal mountings of the clamp member and the lock member to cause the clamp member to lock the tow of a ski boot in the toe iron while permitting maximum lift of the heel thereof.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 EL 20 a; 26

I r i CROSS-COUNTRY TYPE SKI BINDING SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is related to my copending application Ser. No. 276,839 filed July 31, 1972 now US. Pat. No. 3,861,700.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my copending application Ser. No. 276,839, filed on July 31, 1972, I have disclosed an improved crosscoutry type ski binding system which has several desirable characteristics. The system disclosed in my copending application comprises ski binding means consisting of a toe iron, a spring wire bail and a lock for said bail both pivotally mounted, the lock ahead of the bail, on the toe iron by longitudinally spacedapart respective stationary pivot axes. In the structure, the toe of the ski boot is positively locked in the toe iron while still permitting maximum lift of the heel of the ski boot. Means are provided on the bail and the lock forming a movable pivot axes which, in clamping, moves overspect to the stationary pivot axes. However, these elements cannot separate. In my previous construction, it

:was possible for the clamp element and the lock element to separate. If snow jambed beneath the lock element, it was sometimes somewhat difficult to properly engage these elements for clamping of the ski boots in place. This cannot occur in my present invention.

Additionally, I have provided means for varying the pressure exerted by the spring wire bail and also I have provided a simple clamping structure which is inexpensive to manufacture and durable in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvement in a cross-country type ski binding. The ski binding consists of a toe iron, a clamp member and a lock member for the clamp member both of which are pivotally mounted by longitudinally spaced apart respective stationary pivot axes. The clamp member comprises a lever having a clamp element thereon. This lever is journalled on the toe iron to define the stationary pivot axis for the clamp member to move from a lowered, forwardly extending clamping position in which the clamp element presses down upon the sole adjacent the toe of a ski boot for clamping the latter in the toe iron and a raised upwardly extending released position in which the ski boot is released from the toe iron. The lock member is positioned ahead of the clamp member. The clamp member is a spring wire bail which is pivotally mounted as aforesaid. The clamp member and lock member are pivotally connected together to define a pivot axis which moves downwardly over-center of the two stationary pivot axes defined by the pivotal mountings of the clamp member and lock member during movement of the clamp member from its released position to its clamping position to thereby lock the clamp member in its clamping position where the clamp element presses moved downwardly, clampingly engages this portion of down upon the sole adjacent the toe of a ski boot. The spring wire lock member is compressed during the over-center movement to positively lock the toe of the ski boot in the toe iron while permitting maximum lift of the heel thereof.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the cross-country type ski bindingof the present invention illustratively mounted on a ski;' I

Hg. 2 is a side elevational view "of'the ski binding of FIG. 1; 1 v v FIG. 3 is a front end view of the ski binding of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 5-5 FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The cross-country type ski binding 10 of the present invention includes a toe iron 12 which includes a substantially flat plate 14 upon which the toe portion 16 of a ski boot l8 is adapted to rest. An extension 20 extends forwardly from the plate 14. The toe iron 12 has three openings through which extend screws 22, 24, 26 to secure the toe iron to a ski 28. Upstanding wall por tions 30, 32 define a structure for wedging the toe portion 16 of the boot 18 securely in place. Openings 34, 36 are struck in the plate portion 14 and have upstanding lip sections 38, 40 to frictionally engage the under surface of the sole of the ski boot.

A lever 42 having ears 44, 46 is pivotally mounted in the toe iron by means of journals 48, 50. A recess 52 is provided in the forward end of the lever 42 for engagement by the tip of a ski. pole to push the lever downwardly to lock the toe of the ski boot in the toe iron 12. This permits the skier to conveniently lock his boots in place without bending over. I

A downwardly'extending tab 54 is formed in the lever 42 between the ears 44, 46. As will be noted, tab 54' has a curvature complimentary to the curvature of the forwardmost portion of the boot sole 56 which extends beyond the toe 16 of the boot. The tab 54, with the lever the sole to thereby firmly clamp the boot in place.

Spring means are provided to retain the lever 42 in either an upper, raised non-clamping position as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 or in a lower, clamping position as shown in solid lines. The spring means comprises a spring-wire bail structure 58 comprising a pair of generally parallel legs 60, 62 having outturned end portions 64, 66 which are received in oppositely disposed openings provided in the forward upwardly extending portions 68', 70 of the extension 20. As will be noted in FIGS. 1 and 2, three spaced apart openings 74, 76, 78 are provided in each of the portions 68, 70. The legs 60, 62 are sprung outwardly and may be compressed inwardly to free the spring structure from the opening. The spring structure 58 may then be selectively mounted in any oppositely disposed pair of openings to vary the tension applied by the spring on the lever 42.

The spring structure 58 is secured to the lever 42 by means of portion 80 struck out of the material of the lever and curled around spring section 82 of the triangular portion at the end of the spring structure.

The spring structure is so designed as to place its pivotal connection with the lever 42 either above or below an imaginary line through the fixed pivot points of the lever and spring structure 58 when the lever is either raised or lowered as illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be noted that in the raised position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the movable pivotal connection 88 is above an imaginary line through the fixed pivot points defined by opening 76 and journal 50. When the lever 42 is depressed downwardly, the movable pivot point 88 moves downwardly past the imaginary line to ,an over-center position with respect to the fixed pivot points whereupon the spring, which is then compressed, and lever will tend to remain in the lower, clamping position thereby retaining the ski boot in place until positive forces are exerted against the lever 42 to raise it and release the ski boot..

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. Improvement in a cross-country type ski binding consisting of a toe iron, a clamp member and a lock member for said clamp member both pivotally mounted via longitudinally spaced apart respective stationary pivot axes, said improvement comprising said clamp member which comprises a relatively broad lever having a clamp element adjacent one end thereof, said one end including two opposite transversely extending portions journalled on said toe iron to define the stationary pivot axis for the clamp member to move from a lowered, forwardly extending clamping position in which the clamp element presses down upon the sole adjacent the toe of the ski boot for clamping the latter in said toe iron and a raised upwardly extending release position in which the ski boot is released from said toe iron, the lock member being positioned ahead of said clamp member, said lock member being a spring wire bail, said lock member being pivotally mounted as aforesaid, the rear-- said clamp member from its released position to its clamping position to thereby lock the clamp member in its clamping position where said clamp element presses down upon the sole adjacent the toe of a ski boot, said spring wire bail being compressed during said overcenter movement whereby to positively lock the toe of said ski boot in said toe iron while permitting maximum lift of the heel thereof.

2. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said toe iron has a plate portion adapted to receive the toe of a ski boot,

said plate portion having a pair of openings struck therein with a material from which the openings are struck being deformed upwardly to define a lip structure to frictionally engage the undersurface' of the sole.

adjacent the toe ofa ski boot.

3. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that a rearward por tion of said lever is bent downwardly to form said;

clamp element.

4. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in,

claim 1, further characterized in that said forward portion of said lever is struck downwardly, the lowermost portion of said downwardly struck portion of the lever being curled upon itself around the rearward portion of said spring wire bail which defines the lock member to.

thereby pivotally connect the clamp member and lock member together.

5. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said toe iron has a forwardly projecting portion, said forwardly project- 

1. Improvement in a cross-country type ski binding consisting of a toe iron, a clamp member and a lock member of said clamp member both pivotally mounted via longitudinally spaced apart respective stationary pivot axes, said improvement comprising said clamp member which comprises a relatively broad lever having a clamp element adjacent one end thereof, said one end including two opposite transversely extending portions journalled on said toe iron to define the stationary pivot axis for the clamp member to move from a lowered, forwardly extending clamping position in which the clamp element presses down upon the sole adjacent the toe of the ski boot for clamping the latter in said toe iron and a raised upwardly extending release position in which the ski boot is released from said toe iron, the lock member being positioned ahead of said clamp member, said lock member being a spring wire bail, said lock member being pivotally mounted as aforesaid, the rearward end of the lock member being pivotally attached to a forward portion of the clamp member to define a pivot axis which moves downwardly over-center of an imaginary line through the two stationary pivot axes defined by the pivotal mountings of the clamp member and lock member during movement of said clamp member from its released position to its clamping position to thereby lock the clamp member in its clamping position where said clamp element presses down upon the sole adjacent the toe of a ski boot, said spring wire bail being compressed during said over-center movement whereby to positively lock the tow of said ski boot in said toe iron while permitting maximum lift of the heel thereof.
 2. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said toe iron has a plate portion adapted to receive the toe of a ski boot, said plate portion having a pair of openings struck therein with a material from which the openings are struck being deformed upwardly to define a lip structure to frictionally engage the undersurface of the sole adjacent the toe of a ski boot.
 3. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that a rearward portion of said lever is bent downwardly to form said clamp element.
 4. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said forward portion of said lever is struck downwardly, the lowermost portion of said downwardly struck portion of the lever being curled upon itself around the rearward portion of said spring wire bail which defines the lock member to thereby pivotally connect the clamp member and lock member together.
 5. A cross-country type ski binding as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said toe iron has a forwardly projecting portion, said forwardly projecting portion having a pair of spaced apart upwardly directed walls adjacent the forward end thereof, each of said walls having a plurality of spaced apart openings therein defining the stationary pivot for said lock member, said spring wire bail having outturned end portions receivable in any of a pair of diametrically opposed openings in said walls whereby the selection of the pair of openings permits varying of the force exerted by said spring wire bail on the clamp member. 